References

I generally wouldn't provide them up front but a couple of times with agents I know and trust ( there are one or 2 ! ) it was a required imposed by the client. One was government related and if you didn't find a ref you couldnt go forward !

Cooper - you're doing the right thing. I don't supply references until after interview for the reasons stated in earlier posts. They're usually just fishing anyway.

There was also a post a few months ago on here about a contractor who gave a reference, only for the agent to call the guy up (his project manager) and say "your guy is looking for other work - I can provide you with someone more reliable". needless to say the guy was fuming...>:

Aaaah! a form of displacement activity...

My own agency never checks references until the contractor has been for an interview and then only if asked. References are meaningless as it is illegal to give a bad one. Agencies ask for references for a number of reasons, the most important one being because they want leads.
Secondly they take references because they are lazy and cannot read a CV or be bothered to read one
Thirdly they love ringing people up and talking rather than study a CV
It is far better to interview someone and ask searching questions, even over the phone, than it is to check a reference.

told them that i don't supply references until i have been for interview

I believe that's exactly the right position to adopt. That's certainly what I do too

Its happened to me before but I was lucky to have a contract at the end of supplying a reference... Some agents can play those tricks and just get names and contact number out of you without there ever being a role!!

Some agents on the other hand have many candidates and need to double check the CV for non technical info like personality or punctuality..after all, you could have an excellent CV but sick more than a bullied school kid!

Good luck and I hope it turns out ok for ya, but let your references know they may be called upon and that there is pint in it for them

Coming to the end of my contract and have been asked by a southern based agency for references before they put me forward for a contract role they have in mind.

I told them that i don't supply references until i have been for interview. Does anyone else deal with agencies in this way or am i being stupid :x